Tread and method of assembling the same



Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES TREAD AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME.

Harry Nagin, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Reliance Steel Products Company, Rankin, Pa., a cor poration of Pennsylvania 1 Application January 11, 1936, Serial No. 58,693

4 Claims.

This invention relates to treads and the method' of assembling the same and is directed to antisli'p structures and the manufacture thereof and particularly to such as are used on. stair-treads or the like, although it may be useful in connection with other types of structures.

My invention is applicable to various structures where one member is to be fastened to another, such, for example, where treads are to be fastened to the edge of a platform where the nosing tread member is of a material different from the material from which the supporting structure to which it is fastened is constructed. My invention is particularly applicable to stairtreads,'and I will describe it as applied to a stair-tread of the grating type. Gratings of various kinds have been employed for stair-treads for a long time, but they have been open to a certain objections, Regardless of whether a per- 20 son is looking up or down the stairs, it is difficult in anykind of light to distinguish the edge of any particular step. To aid in defining the edges of the various steps, it is desirable to provide a nosing along the front edge thereof.- To pre- 25 vent slipping on the edge of the nosing, I provide a nosing which has a separately formed tread member attached thereto which tread has a roughened or anti-slip portion formed directly thereon. This tread member is securely and 39 firmly fastened to the supporting structure.

present invention contemplates securing the tread member to its supporting structure by welding. Since the tread member frequently employed is formed of cast metal such as iron, i aluminum, etc., or from an abrasive or from an abrasive associated with other material and the supporting member is usually made of steel, it is not possible to weld the tread member and its support. In such cases, I provide a structure in which a fastening member is secured in or to the member itself, this fastening member being constructed from material which is readily attached, as by welding, to the steel supporting structure.

With a nosing such as I have invented and 45 herein described, the edges of the steps are clear- 1y defined, are slip proof, and the liability of accidental injury is eliminated. By forming the tread member so that it can be welded or otherwise securely fastened in place, there-is no liability that it will ever be loosened by accident or by wear after it has been incorporated in. the

structure. v 'In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates 55 the present preferred embodiment of my inven- The tion, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a plan View showing the nosing as applied to a grating type of stair-tread;

Figure 2 is a view along the line IIII of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-section along the nosing, showing the fastening means therein;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating a modified form of the fastening means; and

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate further types of fastening means.

' In the drawing, there is shown a stair-tread of the grating type indicated generally by the reference character 2. The grating has bearing bars 3 and cross bars 4. The bearing bar which lies at the front of the tread is indicated at 3a. A nosing 5, is fastened to the exposed side of bearing bar 3a. The nosing comprises a tread member 5 anda steel angle member or support having a vertical portion 1 and a tread supporting portion or element 8, the end of the latter portion being secured as by welding to the exposed side surface of bearing bar So at a point such that the upper face 9 of the tread portion 5 shall be at the desired elevation with respect to the top surface of the rest of the stair-tread. At suitable points, lugs or plates ID are welded to the bearing bar 3a and to the tread support 8 and'vertical portion 1 of the steel angle memher to strengthen and support the angle member.

"The face of tread member 6 may be smooth or roughened as desired, although it is considered the better practice to make the tread with an abrasive or anti-slip tread surface.

Cast or molded in the tread member of the nosing is a fastening member ll. Since the support 8 is made of steel, the fastening member is made also of steel or of a material which can be readily welded to steel and is preferably cast into the tread member 8 during the manufacture thereof. This fastening member may take the form of a rivet having a head l2 which is secured in the tread member as shown during the casting thereof and a projecting portion l3 adapted to pass through appropriate openings H5 in the supporting portion 8. The projection I3 is secured to the support 8 by any suitable means, preferably by welding. A number of such rivets, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, may be employed for each tread portion depending on the length thereof and the conditions of service. If desired,

the fastening member may take other forms such as a plate Hi shaped as shown in Figure 4. The plate may run substantially the full length of the tread portion and is cast into the tread member 6 so that it is securely and rigidly fastened therein. The surface of plate M is flush with the lower surface of tread portion 6, and the fastening member M is securely Welded to the portion 8 through the appropriate openings [5.

If desired, the tread member 6 may be fastened to supporting element 8 by means of bolts I6, which pass through opening I5 and are received in threaded openings passing part way into the tread member 6. After the tread is secured in position, the bolts 16 are welded to the support 8. This modification is shown in Figure 5.

It is also possible to fasten the tread member 6 to support 8 by casting or otherwise securing a projection or lug IT on or to the lower surface of the tread member, as illustrated in Figure 6. These projections I! pass through openings 15 and each of these lugs has a hole l8 therethrough through which a steel pin i9 is passed to secure the tread in position. This pin may have a taper if desired, and, when it is placed in position, it is preferably welded to the support.

By my invention, I provide a nosing which is securely, permanently, and inexpensively assembled and fastened to the appropriate structure so that there is no opportunity for the tread member of the nosing to become loose and unsafe. The structure provides a strong type of tread member which presents an anti-slip surface. The tread element and the supporting element are securely fastened together and, in the examples herein disclosed, the fastening means are protected from wear and direct exposure to the elements whereby the elfects of rusting and corrosion are minimized.

While I have shown and specifically described the present preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise constructed and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

1. In a structure of the class described, a sup porting element, a tread member, said element and member being formed from different materials which cannot be united by welding and a fastening member molded into the tread member and interlocked therewith having a welded connection with the supporting element for permanently connecting the tread member and supporting element, said fastening member comprising a rivet-like element formed from material weldable to the supporting element and having a head portion embedded in the tread member and a shank-like portion projecting through the supporting member.

2. In a structure of the class described, a supporting element, a tread member, said element and member being formed from different materials which cannot be united by welding and a fastening member'molded into the tread member and interlocked therewith having a welded connection with the supporting element for permanently connecting the tread member and supporting element, said fastening member comprising a plate-like element formed from material weldable to the supporting element and embedded in the tread member.

3. In a stair-tread of the grating type, a nosing comprising a tread member having an abrasive surface the uppermost part of which member is substantially flush with the top of the stair-tread, a support for said tread member, the member being formed from a material not weldable to the support and means formed from material weldable to the support for fastening the tread member to the support.

4. In a stair tread of the grating type, a support, a nosing carried by said support, comprising atread member having an abrasive surface, said tread member being formed from a material not weldable to the support, means embedded in said tread member formed from material weldable to the support, and means for securing said.

support to the grating.

HARRY NAGIN.. 

